How do you identify the value of the discriminant for the equation #6x^2 = 2x – 1#?

1 Answer
Mar 20, 2018

#-20# using Discriminant Formula: #b^2-4ac#

Explanation:

Let's get our quadratic equal to zero first. We can do this from subtracting #6x^2# from both sides. We get:

#-6x^2+2x-1=0#

Our quadratic is in the form #ax^2+bx+c#, where

#a=-6#
#b=2#
#c=-1#

The discriminant of a quadratic is #b^2-4ac#, so we can just plug in these values. We get:

#(2)^2-4(-6)(-1)#

#=>4-4(6)#

#=>4-24=-20#

Therefore, our discriminant is #-20#.